Change-speed gear.



A. T. CQLLIBR. CHANGE SPEED GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED 1113.18. 191s.

1.0621 ((11l *Ziff/uff Z'Colz'er" I. www) A. T. COLLIER.

. CHANGE SPEED GEAR.'

APPLICATION FILED 11:11.18, 1913.

Patent-ea sp1.9,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ff 77a A. T. COLLIER.' CHANGE SPEED GEAR. APPLICATION FILED FBBJS, 1'913.

1,072,915 A Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@Wilfozvz 6% vUNITED sTATns PATENT onirica.

ARTHUR 'rHOMAs coLLIER, ot' sfr. ALBAN'S, ENGLAND.

CHANGE-SPEED GEAR.

To lall 'whom it may concern.

Be 1t known that I, ARTHUR THOMAS COLLIER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residingl at St. Albans, Hertford, 5 Englanfhhave invented new and useful Improvements Relating to Change-Speed Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to change-speed ear.

g According to the present invention, a magnetic clutch is employed wherein the armature or armatures is or are made light,

0r example, of the kind. described in the specification of my British Letters Patent No. 24776 of 1911, and forming the subject of my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 7 30,038, filed November 7, Y1912, and the said armature or armatures is or are connected by means of a spring or springs to the armature-carrier (which may form part of or be attached to either lthe driving or the driven shaft or apparatus) in sucha manner thatv the forces transmitted between said armature or armatures and said carl v rier are transmitted through said sprlngs,

and an undulatory or alternating current or other series of current-pulses, of which successive pulses are preferably in opposite directions, is supplied to the electromagnet of the clutch, so that the residual magnetism 'in the clutch-electromagnet is neutralized, c. g. after each positivepulse, and thus the armature or armatures are very'rapidly re- -leased; Whenthe clutch magnet is enerv gized, the armature or armatures, `are irnmediately attracted by reason of their low inertia, and by the relative rotation of the armature-carrier the springs are stressed until the force exerted thereby on the driven 40 member and connected parts is suiiicient to move the same. When the clutch-magnet is denergized, thearmature or armatures are released and are returned by the springs ap-` Amagnet of the clutch. Moreover, the gear spe'icanon of Letters Patent.

. of said magnet.

Patented sept. 9, 191s.

Applikation and February 18, '1913. semi Namaaas.

will run without shock, since the spring or.

springs prevent any vibration from being set up by the instantaneous engagement of the armature or armatures by the electromagnet.

My said invention moreover comprises an improved form of magnetic clutch applicable for the purpose of the present invention, wherein a plurality of bar or strip armatures extending around the electromagnet are united by links, so as to form a chain which is connected to the driving or the driven part, as the case may be, this counection in the present case being made by means of a series of springs respectively attached at one end to said armatures or said links and at the other end to a spider or other carrier secured to said driving or driven part.

Tn the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice. l

Figure l is a longitudinal central section, and Fig. 2 an end elevation of a changespeed gear constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a plan partly in horizontal section and Fig. 4 a side elevation of a current-reversing device. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the electrical circuits of the above apparatus.A Fig. 6 is a side elevation with parts broken away showing a -modilied form 0f the improved changespeed gear. Fig. 7 is a plan, and Fig. 8 a side elevation illustrating a modified form of chain-armature.

y In the gear shown lin Figs. l and 2, a is a shaft which may, for example, form part of the Cardan shaft of a motor-vehicle. y On this shaft is rigidly iiXed the clutch-electrovmagnet, of which the core b and annular pole-pieces c, c are formed of solid metal. They are preferably provided with a radial slot, which may be filled up by insulating material in order to prevent the formation of eddy currents therein during the variation in the strength of the magnetic field; they may however be laminated, for eX- ample, as described in the specification of my said former Letters Patent No. 24776 of 1911. The energizing coil CZ of this electromagnet has its terminals connected to insulated met-al rings e, f, mounted on the side These rings each engage with a series of spring-supported contactthimbles g, g and h, le, respectively connectarranged with their longitudinal axes transverse to the direction of motion of the pole-pieces c, c and are connected together by links n, n pivotally connected to their ends so as to form a chain. These chains are connected by springs 0, 0, to the arms p, p, of a carrier p lixed to a hollow shaft.

g, which is rotatable in a bearing r and relatively to the shaft a and is coupled for example to the motor of a motor-vehicle. The strength of the springs o, o, should be such that the rate at which thegrip of the magnet on the armatures m, m increases is greater than that at which the tension in the springs increases, so that slipping shall not take place between said armatures and the magnet-poles c, c during magnetization. Stop-pins s, s are provided on some of the armatures m, m these stops engaging with arms p2, p2, on the carrier p when the speed of rotation of the magnet in the same direction as the carrier p is greater than that of said carrier, e. g. when the vehicle over-runs the engine.. The chain so formed may. be made with one of its joints on each side insulated electrically in any suitable manner, so as to prevent the formation of idle currents in the,ring during variations in the strength ofthe magnetic flux in the magnet. links of the chain can be replaced by springs or made with -loose joints, so as to enable the armatures to adapt themselves to the polar surfaces of the magnet during the en- 'ergization and 'denergization of said magnet and also to compensate automatically for wear. The supply of reversed currentpulses to the termlnals y', 7c, of the electromagnet coil d is effected by means of an electric generator t, Fig. 5, the circuit ot which is controlled by means of a circuitreverser comprising two springs u, o, connected by conductors w, m, to the terminals j, la, respectively. These springs are provided with double contact-pieces u', o', which are normally in contact with springsupported contact-pieces y, a, respectively connected to the -land terminals of the electric. generator t. Between insulated blocks 1, 1, on the springs u, o, is arranged a rotary cam 2 hav-ing diametrically opposite projections 3, 3, which are adapted to press the springs u, fu, apart, so as to move the contact-pieces u, o', into contact with spring-supported contact-pieces 4, 5, respectively connected to the and terminals of the electric generator. The direction of the current in the coil Z is thus reversed. The shaft 6 of the rotary cam 2 bears a friction-roller' 7 movable radially along the surface of a friction-disk 8 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing in the casing 9 If desired, one or more of the' of the current-reverser and is driven by a pulley 10, e. g. from a pulley 11 on the carrier p. The spring-contacts u', 'o', 2, '1,' 5,. and the bearings of the shaft 6 are mounted on a carriage 12 which is'capable of sliding in a guide 13 in the casing 9 and is. provided with a nut 14 for engaging with a leading screw 15 rotatable but not axially movable inbearings 16, 16, in the casing 9. This screw-shaft 15 is provided with a pulley 17 whereby it can be turned e. g. from a hand-wheel bymeans of Van endless band. By adjusting the position of the friction-roller 7 relatively to the center of the disk 8, the speed of said roller and consequently the number of reversals of the current supplied to the coil d and the amount of slip taking place between the armatures m, m, and the pole-pieces c, 'c in unit time can be readily varied. If desired, a current-pulse in .one direction can be succeeded by a current-pulse in the opposite direction but of shorter -duratiomfor example by varying the angles subtended by the projections 3, 3, on the cam 2.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 6, three clutches are mounted on a common shaft o, the springs o, 0 being connected to a common carrier 18, which is here made of tubular form. The electric circuits of the several electromagnets can be connected in series or in parallel and be cont-rolled by a common reversing device, for example that described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5. This arrangement'can be adopted in cases where large powers are to be transmitted in a limited space, for eX- ample in marine propulsion.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the armature-bars m', m', are provided at their ends with pivot-pins or screws 20, 20, arranged one at each corner, on to which pins the links f/L, n, are pivoted. By this means, the tension in the chain-armature tends to hold the bars m', m flat against the polar surfaces of the electromagnet. The links n, n', are 'held in position on the screws 20, 20, by means of pins 21, 21, which extend through transverse holes in the ends .of the two screws on each barl m and thus simultaneously prevent unscrewing of said screws from their` sockets inthe said bar.

I claim:

1. A change-speed gear consisting of a magnetic clutch comprising an attracting and an attracted member, a carrier for said attracted member and elastically yielding means connecting saidv attracted member with said carrier. A

2. A change-speed gear consisting yof a magnetic clutch comprising an attracting and an attracted member, a carrier for said. attracted member and a plurality ot springs connecting said attracted member and. said carrier.

3, A change-speed gear consistingof a magnetic clutch comprising an electromagnet having annular polar surfaces, a plu' carrier, an electric circuit incl-uding the energizing coil of saidattracting member, a

' source of electric energy and means for reversing the direction of the' current flowing in said circuit.

5. A change-speed gear consisting of a magnetic clutch comprising an electromagnet having polar surfaces arranged on a surface of revolution, a plurality of armatures adapted to tit against said polar surfaces, a carrier, Asprings connecting said armatures and said carrier, an electric circuit including the energizing coil of said attracting member, .a source of elect-ric energy .and means for reversing the direction ot the current iiowing in said circuit.. 6. A change-Speed gear consisting of a vmagnetic clutch comprising an attracting and an attracted member, a carrierior said attracted member, elastically yielding means connecting said attracted member with said carrier, an electric. circuit including the energizing coil of said attracting member, a source of electric energy, a rotary reversing switch, and means for rotating the piovable member off said switch at diiierent speeds.

7. A change-speed gear consisting of a magnetic clutch comprising an electromag-- net having polar surfaces arranged on a surface of revolution, a plurality of armatures adapt-ed to tit against said polar sur- Jfaces, a carrier, springs' connecting said armatures and saidv carrier, an electric circuit including the energizing lcoil of said attracting member, a source of electric energy, a rotary reversingswitch,l and speedchanging mechanism comprising a frictiondisk and a friction-wheel movable along an 'axis which lies parallel to the surface of said friction-disk.

8. A change-speed gearconsisting; of a lnagnetic clutch ,comprising an electromagnet having annular polar surfaces, a lurality of armatures adapted to fit against said polar surfaces and arranged transversely to the direction of mot-ion of said polar surfaces. flexible means Lfor connect.v

ing together the ends of said armatures, a carrier, and a plurality of springs connecting said armatures and said carrier.

'9, A change-speed gear consisting of a magnetic clutch comprising an electromag-A net having annular polar surfaces, a plurality of bar -shaped armatures arranged transversely to the direction of motion of said polar surfaces, links connecting said armatures to form a chain, a carrier, and a plurality of springs connecting said armatures a'nd said carrier. i

10. A change-speed gear consisting of a magnetic clutch comprising an electromagnet having its polar surfaces arranged in an annular surface, a plurality of armatures arrangedaround saidvannular surface, a carrier, a plurality of springs connecting said armature and said carrier and means tor preventing backward movement of said armatures relatively to .said carrier.

11. A change-speed gear consisting of a magnetic clutch comprising an electromagnet having its polar surfaces arranged in an annular Surface, a plurality of armatures arranged around said annular'surface, links connectingsaid'armatures toform a chain, a carrier, a plurality of springs connecting said armature and said carrier, stops on said armatures and stops on said carrier foi" coacting with the stops on the armatures.

12. A change-speed gear 4comprising a pluralityof` magnetic clutches, a shaft to which the electromagnets of said clutches are secured, a tubular-carrier, and springs connecting the armatures of said clutches to said tubular carrier.

13. A change-speed gear comprising an electromagnet having annular pole-pieces, a plurality of armatures, a carrier, and springs connecting said armatures and said ioo carrier, the strength of such springs being ,terminals of said electromagnet coil, andseriesv of spring-supported contact-pieces engaging with said rings respectively.

15. A change-speed gear comprising an' electromagnet having annular pole-pieces, a plurality of bar-armatures for coacting with said pole-pieces, links connectingsaid armatures to form a chain, a carrier, springs connecting said chain with said. carrier,

stops arranged on said chain and said carrier so as to prevent backward motion of said chain relatively to said carrier,'contactrings on said electro-magnet connected to thel energizing coil of said electromagnet, spring-contacts engaging with said contactrings respectively, and means for supplying a series of current-pulses to the energizing coil of said electromagiiet, successive pulses being in opposite directions.

1.6.l A change-speed gear comprising au electromagnet having pole-pieces arranged in an annular surface, a plurality of bar armatures arranged around said annular 5 surface, with their longitudinal axes lying transversely to thed'retion of motion of 4said surface'ea ch armature being adapted to come into direct Contact with both of the vole-pieces'of the electromagnet, and means .v10 or supplying a series of current-pulses to the energizing coil of said electlromavnen ,successive pulses being in opposite directions.

17. A change-speed gear comprising'an electromagnet having pole-pieces 'arranged '15 in an annular surface, a plurality of armatures arranged around said annular surface, links connecting said armatures t0 form a chain, a carrier, and means for connecting said armatures and said carrier.

18. A change-speed gear comprising an ad electromagnet having pole-pieces arranged in an annular surface, a plurality of armatures arranged around said annular surface, flexible rneans for connecting said armatures together, a cal-river, and means for connect- 25 ing said armatures and said carrier. f

ARTHUR THOMAS COLLIER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE HARRISON, HERBERT A. BEESTON. 

